Like Thrash? Try Skeletonwitch

I recently teamed up with fellow Dayton City Paper writer Gary Spencer to do a little feature on Ohio metal band Skeletonwitch. For those that like thrash, this band is for you! Check it out below. 

Legendary Ohio metallers Skeletonwitch are about to unleash their hardcore fury on Dayton. The band will play Oddbody’s (5418 Burkhardt Road) on Nov. 15. Dayton bands Horlet and Engraved Darkness will open the show. Advance tickets are on sale now for $12. The door price is $15. This is an 18 and over show and doors open at 7 p.m.

Guitarist Scott Hedrick is excited to be back in the Dayton area doing shows. For a band originally from Athens, Ohio, Skeletonwitch has only played Dayton two times before, and those shows were a long time ago.

“The more memorable performance was a show with The Red Chord and Job for a Cowboy at a Christian venue,” Hedrick told the Dayton City Paper. “The owner actually asked us to sign papers saying that we wouldn’t fucking swear on stage. That was interesting.”

Since that “no swearing show,” Skeletonwitch has continued to crisscross the country, logging hundreds of thousands of miles and racking up fans in support of their classic style of true thrash metal.

With a decade of experience on the road and in the studio, the guys in Skeletonwitch know how to handle curve balls. A big one was thrown at the band in October when singer Chance Garnette was forced to leave the band’s current tour for personal matters. The other four members of the band had to make a decision: cancel the shows or carry on and do something nearly unheard of for a metal band – instrumental gigs. Skeletonwitch chose the latter, playing instrumental gigs for their legions of faithful metal heads.

Keep reading on the Dayton City Paper website. 

Slash and Myles Kennedy Go Acoustic

Slash and Myles Kennedy recently performed on the Norwegian-Swedish television talk show "Skavlan." The duo did an acoustic version of "Bent to Fly," which turned out really awesome. Watch below and happy Friday!

Bret Michaels Has More Health Setbacks

According to various news sources, Bret Michaels is suffering from more health issues. He had kidney surgery a few weeks ago... and he's been hospitalized half a dozen times in the two week period following that surgery. Doctors had to put two stents into Bret's body.

Pete Evick, who is Bret's friend and also part of his solo band, wrote on Facebook:

"Over the last two weeks Bret was in and out of 6 hospitals throughout the Midwest. Including the incredible Mercy Hospital of Northwest Arkansas. The staff and doctors were unbelievable and took incredible care of Bret."

I'm not a medical expert, but it seems to me that Bret would be better off by taking a vacation to rest and actually heal from surgery instead of continuing to tour the country, singing Poison songs. The people going to Bret's solo shows are pretty much die-hard fans at this point anyway, so I think they'd understand if some shows got canceled.

Post by Bret Michaels.

AC/DC Release Video For 'Play Ball'

AC/DC has released the official video for "Play Ball." The song is from the album Rock or Bust due December 2. A little under whelmed, but hey, you basically know what you're gonna get music-wise with AC/DC at this point, right?

Happy Veterans Day

What do Billy Ray Cryus, Steve Stevens and Matt Sorum have on common? I have no idea, but the unlikely group came together with SSgt. Mark Plummer (Ret.), a Wounded Warrior, to record the song "Do What I Do” in honor of Veterans Day.

SSgt. Plummer wrote the song about his battle with PTSD -- he did three tours in Iraq.

Proceeds from the sale of "Do What I Do" will be donated to Global Sound Lodge. Here's the tune. 

Michael Schenker Performs New Music

Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock recently performed a new song called "Vigilante Man." The song is from the band's upcoming album, most likely coming out in early 2015. I dig it. Do you?

First Videos Of KISS Las Vegas Residency

KISS are doing a residency at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. First videos of that residency are now popping up online. The residency runs until November 23 - so there's plenty of time to travel to Vegas if you want to catch this show.